Archive for the 'Modestep' Tag Under 'Soundcheck' Category

November 15th, 2011, 11:30 pm by BEN WENER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

I feel certain that Adam Ant must have set foot in Orange County sometime in the quarter-century or so since he played Irvine Meadows in spring 1984, at the peak of his popularity, on the final date of a stateside tour behind his second solo album, Strip. I mean, he lived in L.A. for part of the '90s, while attempting to forge an acting career. Surely he must have ventured south once in a while, never mind whatever gigs he might have booked.

Still, April '84 was the last time I remember seeing him live. Poured like a flood that night, too.

Even so, I distinctly remember (though I was only 14 at the time) that during the encore, everyone's favorite pirate punk peeled off his wardrobe very Prince-like, until all that remained were a black G-string and thigh-high boots. Then he lunged into a tank of water, writhing around like a trout tossed back into the ocean by a benevolent fisherman.

They just don't make 'em like that anymore.

I don't suppose the dandy highwayman born Stuart Goddard will indulge such an outrageous stunt when he comes to City National Grove of Anaheim on Feb. 25. He just turned 57, after all, and he's not exactly had an easy time of it this past decade; a series of arrests for affray and stints in psychiatric wards finally led to Ant being properly diagnosed as suffering from bipolar disorder.